Youth basketball standings tighten, adults play soccer

As the youth basketball season at the Anna Maria Island Community Center moves closer to the post season, the standings are tightening, even in the two-team 8-10 division where Island Real Estate finally broke through with a victory May 21.

IRE rolled to a 17-8 win over previously unbeaten Beach Bums behind 10 points from Shawn Balvin and 3 points from Luke Bisio. Anthony Nguyen and Ben Brashear completed the scoring with 2 points each in the victory.

Sean Rodriguez paced Beach Bums with 4 points while Michael Pears and Will Batey each scored 2 points in the loss.

The standings are really tight in the 11-13 division after the Sandbar upset first-place Eat Here 29-27 May 24. Eat Here sits at 4-2 with BridgeTender Inn and Sandbar with matching 3-4 records — both two games back in the loss column.

Paige Charron paced Eat Here with 12 points and five rebounds, while Andrew Proctor chippped in 10 points and a game-high 14 rebounds. Noah Heskin completed the Eat Here scoring with 5 points and nine rebounds in the loss.

The 14-17 division teams are packed tightly in the standings with Dips Ice Cream and Beach Bistro tied for first place on matching 5-2 records. Walter & Associates follows at 4-4 with West Coast Air Conditioning right behind at 3-4. Heritage Paper brings up the rear, but Heritage managed a 59-53 upset against first-place Beach Bistro for its first victory on the season May 19.

Burke Hill went off, scoring 30 points, grabbing eight rebounds and dishing out fiyr assists to lead Heritage, which also received 8 points each from Cameron Brauner and Mikey Ellsworth, and 7 points and seven rebounds from Sam Cuva in the victory.

Alex Gilman led Beach Bistro with 17 points and seven rebounds, while brother Ryan Gilman added 16 points and six rebounds. Chris Johnson also had a strong game, scoring 8 points and grabbing 14 rebounds in the loss.

Adult soccer continues

Adult soccer at the Anna Maria Island Community Center moved into its fourth week May 22 with three close games and one blowout by first-place Jessie’s Island Store over last place Beach to Bay Construction.

Island Pest Control kept pace with Jessie’s thanks to a 1-0 victory over third-place Sato behind a strong game from goalie Ray Gardner, who made 14 saves, and a game-winning goal from Andrew Turman.

LaPensee Plumbing remained in fourth place as it improved to 2-2 after edging Slim’s Place 3-2 behind goals from Jeff Christenson, Aaron Dudukes and Joe Ciasullo, while Adam Mott notched six saves.

Slim’s Place was led by Danny Anderson’s two goals and 15 saves from goalie Will Case in the loss.

The third match of the evening saw Ross Built and Agnelli Pool & Spa battle to a 1-1 tie. Matt Kretzman notched the lone goal for Agnelli, while Adam Bujarski scored for Ross.

Jessie’s rolled past Beach to Bay Construction in the final game of the night behind two goals each from Aaron Parkin and BJ Grant. Shawn Stanley, Danny Burton and Chelsey Hoffner each notched a goal, while Pedro Gonzalez added six saves between the pipes.

Damir Glavan scored the lone goal for Beach to Bay, which received 11 saves from goalie Ryan Moss in defeat.

Magic soccer

The U14 girls have put the Magic back in Manatee Magic. It’s been four seasons since MAYSO revived its competitive program, and it keeps getting better.

The U14 girls, coached by Island soccer product Brett McIntosh, have proven their fierce competitive spirit and love of the game. The team has 23 wins, nine draws, and five losses since its 2011-12 inaugural season, when they placed first in their division. The team also has been been a semi-finalist and finalist in several regional and holiday tournaments.

The team now moves into the senior U15 division for the 2014-2015 season, where players plan to play competitively and, hopefully, get a look form college coaches in some showcase tournaments. Many of the players are also competing for high school teams.

The Magic also has a U14 boys team, coached by former Island Football Club player Neil Fellowes. His team posted a 7-3-4 record in USA League’s second division and advanced to the Region C Cup final four during the 2012-13 season.

The U12 boys coached by your columnist and another Island soccer product, finished in third place in the second division and advanced to the round of 16 in the past two Region C Cup tournaments.

The club also includes U12 girls, U11 boys and U10 boys teams.

The Magic organization is looking to expand its stable of teams for the 2014-15 season which gets started with tryouts next week.

Tryouts are May 28-31 at G.T. Bray Park, Bradenton, on the south side near the concession stands.

There is no cost to tryout, and payment for the season of play isn’t due until just before the first game.

For a full schedule, including rain dates, if needed, go online to www.mayso.org, or email info@mayso.org.

Key Royale golf news

The Key Royale Club women took the course for a nine-hole, individual-low-net golf match May 20 in two flights. Fran Barford carded a 3-under-par 29 to earn first place in Flight A by three shots over Phyllis Roe. Heather Blane, Jean Holmes and Meredith Slaven came in a shot back in a three-way tie for third place.

Roxann Koche fired a 6-under-par 26 for the low-net round of the day and first place in Flight B. Sue Wheeler was three shots back, while Kathy Porter was another shot back in third.

The men had few golf outings in the past week, including a nine-hole, individual-low-net match May 19. Bob Dickinson carded a 6-under-par 26 to take first place by one shot over Omar Trolard, alone in second place.

Later in the day, the men got back out for a nine-hole, modified Stableford match. Quentin Talbert and Nelson Eagle both carded plus-6 to take first place in the individual category, while the team of Art McMillan, Dan Richardson, Dave Richardson and Ron Vandeman combined on a plus-4 to win the team competition.

The men were back on the Key Royale Club track May 22 for a nine-hole scramble. Three teams negotiated the par-32 course at 5-under-par 27 to finish in a tie for first place.